“And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.  And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave” (Matthew 27:59-61).

The two women and Joseph were there preparing the body for the grace.  By their actions, they did not yet realize what would happen.  Although Jesus told them, they did not yet believe.  How many times do we not believe what the Lord tells us?  Faithful to Him, yes, but unbelieving of what He has told us.  The Lord calls upon us to learn how to live a life that trusts Him above all things.

Lord, You know that I go through the motions of the religion I have learned, often without even thinking about it.  I try to live rightly; but do I trust You above all things?  You know that I do not.  There may be good things that I think I’m doing, but is it really good when it goes against what You have said?  Help my unbelief so that I may see where I am doing what I think is good, but not believing in what You have said.

Lord Jesus, there are many things I do not understand.  I want to be faithful and Your grace covers me when I act amid things what I do not understand, but lead me so that I gain more understanding and live my faith learning how to trust all of what You have said.  Help me to not stay within my comfort zone and instead boldly to be willing to step forward into new insight and understanding.  Amen.

“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.  This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him” (Matthew 27:57-58).

There are those, obedient to the Lord, who do what is needed.  In every fellowship, the faithful step up and do the right thing.  A part of the doing is a part of the journey of becoming.  He became a disciple of Jesus and honored Him even in death.  Not knowing what would happen, he moved ahead with honoring Jesus.  Live your faith honoring the Lord even if you do not know what the outcome will be.

Lord, I often wonder whether or not my faith is such that I could step out amid the hostility around me and do what is right.  People in power hated Jesus.  Joseph went into the middle of this and was willing to do what was right with the possibility of great cost to his safety and well-being.  We need help to see from this example that trusting the Lord above all things is always the right thing to do even if sometimes threatening. 

Lord Jesus, even in Your death there were those who honored and served You.  In life and through my daily living, without threat, there are times when I do not honor You.  Teach me how to honor You at all times so that I live with courage the kind of life You are leading me to live.  Guide me in the way to live that I would care less about what others around me are thinking and more about what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Amen.

“Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.  Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 27:55-56).

How many look from a distance.  Even those who regularly attend worship seem to be looking from a distance.  But this is not something to watch, but a life to be lived.  The women would act and although they did not yet know for sure what needed to happen, they would go to the tomb and, in faith, attend to Jesus.  We are called to step out in faith no matter what we think, for the Lord will accomplish all that is needed.

Lord, I see many things and sometimes it causes me to stop and do nothing.  Help me to be one who is living and doing what You give me to do.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk by faith.  Let my faith blossom to belief without doubt and through my actions grow in me what You intend.  Lead me, Lord, so that I willingly follow despite my circumstances, trusting in You always.

Lord Jesus, there are times when all seems hopeless.  Knowing that the resurrection has happened provides hope beyond the circumstances of this world.  Though there are times when I do not see good things around me, help me to look to You, the One who gives the greatest hope of all.  While the world sinks into hopelessness, help me to live with the hope that is above all doubt as I trust that You have accomplished salvation for all who believe.  Amen.

“Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

It does not matter who you are or what your circumstances are; if you are willing to see the truth, you will see the power of God at work.  The Lord desires that none should perish.  The awakening to faith has been happening amongst every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation all along.  Yes, this is the only begotten Son of the Father.  He who was crucified and resurrected, accomplished salvation for all who will believe.

Lord, I see that You show no partiality.  You will awaken all who are willing to come to You by faith and trust that You in Trinity are God.  Guide me to live into the life You offer me in faith so that I do not just see but believe.  Help me to be aware of what is happening so that I see things that You are showing me.  Through all things, be the One who leads me in this life of faith which You have given me.

Lord Jesus, in great love You have taken all my iniquities, and they died with You on the cross.  Take me out of the grave to live the new life You have given me in this faith which is mine in and through You.  Help me to live in such a way that my actions are outwardly directed, serving You and others according to the Father’s will.  Lead me every step of the way as I walk the life of faith, abiding in You, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;  and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:52-53).

Many bodies of the saints were raised.  Is there a resurrection?  Yes.  These are they who were faithful and fell asleep awaiting the Messiah.  They had faith in Jesus even though they did not know who He would be.  Faith is the firm assurance that God will accomplish what He has promised.  Time does not matter.  Trusting the Lord is above what we think we know.  Trust in the One who has accomplished our salvation.

Lord, You have been calling all who would receive You regardless of what they do or do not know.  Help me to realize how little I really know so that I would not rely upon what I know, but trust You who knows all things.  Lead me in the salvation You have given me so that I follow the path that You have set before me.  Guide me in Your mercy and goodness to know that You will accomplish all that You have promised.

Lord Jesus, with Your resurrection You have shown us that all who trust in You will be resurrected in a resurrection like Yours to abide with You forever.  You have accomplished salvation for all who believe.  Remove my unbelief and lead me in the upward calling You have given me through faith.  Teach me what I need to know and help me to trust You above all things.  You must be the One who leads me always.  Amen.

“And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:51).

That which covered the Holy of holies was thrown open.  The unapproachable God (or so it was perceived) is now approachable.  God is with us.  God is for those who repent and turn in grace to Christ.  The power which created all things reminds us that it is He who holds all power and authority.  The signs are given.  The faithful see them and tremble, the unfaithful shrug them off with some sort of excuse.

Lord, the unbelieving in this world do not see the things that You make so clear.  They do not want to believe and so they reject every effort to see what is plain to see.  Help us, Lord, so that the faithful see the signs that You give.  There is no longer a veil that hinders our ability to draw near to You.  Lead us so that we draw near to You, who is the truth, and the way to the eternal life made possible through the cross.

Lord Jesus, the curious want to know where You went.  Help me to have fewer and fewer questions and more and more trust in You, my Lord and Savior.  You died the death I deserve for me to live the life for which I was created.  You have opened the way to learn right living.  Guide me, Jesus, for I need help every step of the way, including that final step in this age when I shall die.  Thank You, Jesus, for the salvation You offer.  Amen.

“But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.”  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27:49-50).

Who is in control?  The illusion of this age is that we can have power and control.  It is an illusion, which is why the wicked are such control freaks.  They do not really have power, so they intimidate to make others think they do.  That is the way of the wicked one.  Our Lord has all authority and power.  Life was not taken from Him; He willingly gave it up.  “And He yielded up His spirit.”

Savior of the world, all authority and power are Yours.  You have come to rescue the lost and forsaken.  You have come not to control, but to take us out of the chaos of this age into the order of the eternal goodness of the Father.  The sinful ways of this world become clearer as the faith You give grows deeper.  Your peace surpasses this world’s because it reminds us that You have always been in control amidst all this rebellion.

Guide me always, Lord Jesus, into the calmness of Your intentionality.  Even in the worst of circumstances – Your dying on the cross – You displayed Your eternal power by giving it up for us.  You gave up Your Spirit.  Lord Jesus, only You have that ability.  All ability I have comes through You.  Abide in me, Jesus, so that I may live the life the Father intends.  Teach me how to become like You in all things You give me to do.  Amen.

“And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.”  Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink” (Matthew 27:47-48).

There were those around Jesus who thought He was delusional.  They treated Him with contempt.  If Jesus is not God in the flesh, then it would be delusional, but Him being God, we are left with an entirely different pondering over the mystery of why God would suffer these indignities.  The One through whom all things have their being suffered beyond our ability to bear for the cause of offering us the ability to join in His eternal love.

Lord, Your willingness to suffer not only pain in Your body, but the anguish of taunting and rejection is beyond my ability to comprehend.  It continues with each person who rejects You and lives to themself.  Teach me appreciation for all You accomplished.  You are the One who has taken away the sin of the world.  Now and always, help me to see what You have done and grow in gratitude.  Thanks be to God!

Lord Jesus, taunted by the world, guide me to accept the suffering You allow in my life so that I may mature in faith through every experience You give to become more like You.  I do not like it, but I cannot imagine You did either.  Help me to learn how to live in the Father’s will and abide in You as You abide in me.  Lead me now and always, my gracious Savior, in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:45-46)

We live in an age that is oppressed with wickedness.  The Lord has allowed all this so that we, who deserve condemnation, might have the opportunity to repent and be united in love with Him.  We live in an age that seems forsaken; except for Christ, it is.  Our hope is in the One who declares both the forsaken nature of this age and offers the only hope which is ours through faith.  Sin separates us from God.  Jesus, who became our sin experienced that absolute separation that sin brings.

Lord, I hear Your cry.  You knew You were loved, but the separation that sin brings, You took upon Your body.  Our sin is a grief that cries out through eternity.  I hear the anguish of an unanswerable “why?” crying out.  Why have we forsaken You, the One through whom all things have their being.  The pain of this world is great, but greater still is the love of the Father which grants us access through the Son.

Lord Jesus, some mock You and say that because You are God it was easy for You.  Only because You are God could You do this, for the anguish caused by sin is more than we are able to bear.  It kills us.  Only You could die for our sins and be resurrected for our sake.  My Lord and my God, unite me with You that I may die to sin and never be separated from You.  Unite me with You that I may be resurrected to new and everlasting life.  Amen.

“He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words” (Matthew 27:43-44).

If God loves you, He will . . . .  Stop that kind of thinking.  God loves you!  This is what Scripture says.  Therefore, there can be no other conditions.  Sin is in the world, and you have the promise that our Lord will work things out for your good because He loves you and you love Him.  Beyond that, there is sin in the world and sin is destructive.  The hope is not in our situation, but in the truth that nothing created will ever be able to separate you from God’s love.

Heavenly Father, You wonderfully created all that You have made.  You delight in the good creation You have made.  You gave Your only begotten Son, begotten, not made, for the sake of those who would join in the love which You and the Son have.  Love trusts the One loved.  The Son loves You and You love the Son.  What happens in this age does not change that.  Lead me into Your love knowing that nothing can separate me from You.

Lord Jesus, You so loved all of us so much that You willingly paid the price for us to be redeemed.  Help me so that I am not bound by the circumstances of this world but live into the love and life which You offer through the salvation You have purchased from the cross.  Guide me, dear Lord, in this life and help me ignore the taunting and jeers of unbelievers in this age.  Lead me always in Your eternal love.  Amen.